Catapult with improved fork and sling



Dec. 8, 1953 A. B. CASEY CATAPULT WITH IMPROVED FORK AND SLING FiledJune 4, 1951 Fig. 2

m R m 6 Wm. M F B r 4 U am 0 Q r A V.. 3 B m F m Patented Dec. 8, 1953CATAPULT WITH AND SLIN IMPROVED roan Arthur B. Casey, Montoursville, Pa.Application June 4, 1951, Serial No. 229,785

.2 Claims. (Cl. 124-20) The present invention relates to certain new anduseful improvements in catapults, and has more particular reference to aconstruction which, in an over-all structural sense, is characterized byfork and handle means of unique design and, in addition, by acomplemental composite sling.

As will be hereinafter made apparent, the instrumentality hereinrevealed is not to be construed as a simple toy-sized plaything. On thecontrary, it is a precision type hunting catapult which, because ofspecial adaptability and scientific designing, functions for shootingsmall game such as rabbits, squirrels, quail, birds, and the like.

It is a matter of common knowledge that catapults, more popularly knownthese days as slingshots, have been and are coming into great prominencefor target shooting and small game hunting, since it has been found thatwhen the components of the over-all construction are properly designed,any sportsman with hunting talent can, after practice, use slingshotsquite skillfully and resultfully.

There has long existed a demand'for the production of a precisionfashioned and made slingshotwith a correct grip and otherproportionately correct facilities. It follows, therefore, that thegeneral object of the invention is to provide a 'huntsmans catapult orslingshot in the category stated which is a significant improvement inthis line of endeavor, and in which manufacturers and users will findtheir primary requirements and needs fully met, contained andeffectually available.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on a solid wooden or equivalentfork construction characterized, as usual, by fork arms or prongs toaccommodate the com-plemental bands on the sling but unique in that itembodies a laterally ofl'set handle which is joined to the base of thefork by a so-called stock, the stock and handle coacting in providing acomforting and hand fitting grip, one whichallows the user to reallygrasp the fork and to hold and aim it with requisite certainty andwithout the possibility of the handle twisting or turning in the hand.

Stated somewhat more explicitly, the handle is polygonal in crosssection and joins the base of the fork by way of a sturdy webconstituting the stock, the marginal edges of the latter being contouredto merge into the edges of the handle and also being further notched andotherwise contoured to provide a firm fitting seat on one side for theindex finger and a reliable thumb rest on the other side.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on a container built into the handlefor purposes of accommodating and carrying projectiles such as buckshotand the like.

In addition to theabove, novelty is predicated on the composite slingmade up of sturdy rubber or equivalent bands joined together atcorresponding ends by a soft leather (preferably buckskin) whichconstitutes a saddle and is fashioned with a pouch-like pocket to assistin pinching and holding the missiles until they are releasedwhen shot.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying sheet of illustrativedrawings.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein like numerals areemployed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a perspective view of a huntsmans catapult or so-calledslingshot constructed in accordance with the invention and showing themanner in which same is used.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the fork unit with portions in section,the view being on the plane of the line 2-2 of Figure 3, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the complete instrumentality showing allthe details of the sling means.

Figure 4 is a view of the saddle portion of the sling means, which viewmay be said to be taken approximately on the lined-4 of Figure 3,looking in the direction of the arrows.

There are two essential components or units in the over-allconstruction; namely, the fork means or unit 6, on the one hand, and thesling means 8 on the other. The fork means is preferably constructedfrom a solid block of wood or equivalent material and is common inthat-it includes the fork proper having spaced parallel prongs l0 and I2defining. the customary crotch l4. The upper free ends'of the prongs orarms are formed with kerfs-lL-IB. The thing which is unique about thisunit is that the handle I8 is polygonal in cross-sectionfand is offsetin respect to the longitudinal lines which intersects the median part ofthe crotch M. In Figure 2, we see the handle offset to the right. Thehandle is joined to the fork by wayrof a body or web portion which maybe bestgqdescribed herein as a stock 20. The stock is also broadenedtoward the right-hand side in Figure g. The edgeportions 22 and 24 mergehandle. The cially shaped into the longitudinal edges of the remainingedge portions are espein the manner shown. There is,

for example, a shallow seat 26 which serves to accommodate the indexfinger, as shown in Figure 1. Then there is a longer ranging compoundcurve defining another recess 28 and this is, in efiect, a form fittingthumb rest. The stock with the finger rest in conjunction with theoffset handle provide a form fitting or conformable grip for the user.The grip is well balanced and accurately, situated and designed to serveits intendedipu'rposes with requisite certainty and usefulness. Thesling means is as shown and comprises a pair of duplicate sturdy rubberor equivalent flexible elastic bands 30-30. These have their endportions 32 wedged and thusre movably secured in the kerfs in order tobe able to reverse the fork means 16 in respect tothe sling means foruse by both right-handed and left-handed shooters. leather and isdenoted by the numeral 3}! and comprises a relatively short wide lengthor buck-' skin. The ends of this are abutted with the ends of the rubberbands and patches of'vulc'a-nizing rubber, as shown'at 3B, are securedto these abutting ends, and thus the saddle is joined to the rubberbands. As stated, buckskin is preferably used because it is soft andwill not blister the fingers of the user. The intermediate :portion isdepressed into a pouch-like pocket which is pre iormed and retains itsshape, said pocket being denoted at 3'8 and being adapted toaccommoda'te a plurality of buckshot 'oro'ther missiles, for example,B2B buckshot, steel ball or similar projectiles. Briefiy summarized,here are some or the advantageous aspects of the over-allinstrumental'ity, to-wit:

1. The stock is made of a good hard wood, the right weight to balancewith the sling when shooting. It is made to lit the hand with easeand-comfort, which is necessary to give you accuracy. It will not twistor turn in the hand and it can be used either right or left handed byreversing the sling straps from one side of the stock to the other. Ithas a hole in the bottom oi the stock that carries twelve quarter inchballs or thirty BBs held in by a cork'stopper.

The sling straps are made from the best of gum rubber to give one powerand hard hitting which is so important. The shot pouch is made of softbuckskin that will not blister the thumb or finger, and yet tough forlong life. The rubber straps and leather shot pouch are smoothlyvulcanized together, making the sling all in one straight piece, or youmight say streamlined. There are no strings to break or pull loose, notwist in the straps as the old type.

3. The leather shot pouch has a shot pocket,

which one must have if he is'going to use shot.

The receded shot pocket in the center will carry from 'six to ten number5 shot, three BBs or onenuarter inch steel balls, and when pinchedtogether with the thumb and finger automatically closes the pocket andcannot roll out until released to shoot. One cannot lay "shot on a flatpiece of rubber or leather "and fold it together and expect them to staythere.

The numeral 40 designates abo're in the handle serving as a convenientholder for small missiles, such as buckshot4'2, and the latter are keptin place by a stopper "44 fitting 'remo'vably into the bore.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of thedevice be quite apparent to those skilled in The saddle is of soft 4this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and arrangement of parts may beresorted to in actual practice without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

. ,1. Aprecision-type catapult expressly designed for shooting gamecomprising a onepiece structure embodying a substantially U-shaped forkhaving spaced parallel prongs and a crotch between said prongs, ahandle, said handle being fpeiygonei in cross-section, and afinger-gripping stock providing a junctural connection betweensaid'handle and fork, one marginal edge of said stock having a recessshaped to provide a thumb rest, the latter being situated in alignmentwith the adjacent longitudinal axis of one prong, the marginal edge ofthe "stock adjacent the other prong having a recess and a cooperatingshoulder collectively defining a -seat for the butt of the index finger,said handle being offset relative to the center of the crotch and havingits longitudinal axis disposed between said last named seat and thecenter of said crotch, and a sling having elastic band portions joinedat corresponding ends by way of a connecting saddle and having theiropposite ends joined with the I-r'eeend portions of said prongs.

2. A precision-type catapult expressly'd'esi'gned for shooting gamecomprising a one-piece structure embodying a substantially Lie-shapedfork having spaced parallel prongs and a crotch between said prongs, ahandle, said handle being polygonal in cross-section, and afinger-gripping stock providing a junet-u-ral connection between saidhandle and fork, one marginal edge or said stock having a recess shapedto provide a thumb rest, the latter being situated in alignment with theadjacent longitudinal axis of one prong, the marginal edge of the stockadjacent the other prong having a recess and a -cooperating shouldercollectively defining a seat for the butt or the index finger, saidhandle being offset relative to the center of the crotch and having itslongitudinal axis disposed between said last ma med seat and the centerof said crotch, and a composite sling embodying a pair of balancedsturdy dupli cate rubber bands and a pliant leather saddle positivelyadjoining corresponding ends of said band, the central portion of saidsaddle being fashioned into a permanently distended pouch providing apocket for a bucksh'ot or'a similar projectile, said pouch beinggenerally concaveconvex but pliable in order that its shape may vary tofit the diflerent sizes of projectiles.

ARTHUR B. CASEY.

References Cited in' the file or this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date D. 163,738 Be'g'g s June 26, 1951 ceases 'lS inith Apr.5, 188i 5993747 Stoddard Mar. .1, 1B9 1,277,701 Depa's's se t. 3, 1911,346,754 Jones July '13, 1920 2,293,505 pttm'an Oct. 13, 1942 2,600,524Fern'sel June it, '19'5'2 FOREIGN PATENTS Number country Date I 84,015Sweden s. c sun so. 1935

